Page 12 - BENTLEY SYSTEMS PR REPORT - SEPTEMBER 2025

9/10/25, 2:45 PM Exclusive: AI Is Fueling a Power Surge, It Could Also Reinvent the Grid - Tech Revolt
McKinsey projects that meeting this demand could require the equivalent of building 160 nuclear power
plants. Already, regions like Northern Virginia—home to one of the largest data center clusters in the
world—are approaching grid capacity.

What’s often missing from this conversation is nuance. While the challenges are real, so are the
opportunities. AI’s impact on energy is not a one-way street.

AI can be a powerful tool for modernizing how we produce, distribute, and manage energy. It can help
grid operators anticipate and respond to surges in demand, identify inefficiencies in transmission, and
improve overall reliability. It can also guide smarter decisions about where to invest in new infrastructure
—decisions that are critical as we confront the limitations of legacy systems built for a different era.

Photo: Brad Johnson, director, Electric Utilties, Bentley Systems

In some cases, the AI boom is pushing the energy sector to accelerate innovation that was already
overdue. For instance, modular nuclear reactors—once seen as a long-term bet—are now gaining
momentum as potential solutions for high-density energy needs. Grid-scale batteries and other storage
technologies are moving from concept to deployment, enabling better integration of renewable energy into
the mix. And the shift toward smart grids offers a way to build resilience while minimizing waste.

Still, the fastest path forward may lie in using the infrastructure we already have more intelligently. Across
the energy lifecycle—from planning and permitting to monitoring and maintenance—AI and digital twin

technologies can provide real-time insights that help extend asset life, improve performance, and reduce
environmental impact. This is especially important in the context of climate change, where sustainability
and efficiency must go hand in hand.

We’re seeing early signs of this in projects that integrate AI with next-gen grid technologies to predict
power surges, dynamically shift loads, and manage outages more effectively. Efforts to repurpose and
retrofit existing infrastructure—rather than default to building from scratch—are helping close the gap
between demand and supply in ways that are faster, more cost-effective, and less carbon-intensive.

Data centers themselves are beginning to evolve as well. Some forward-looking facilities are now being
designed with built-in flexibility to contribute back to the grid or operate independently during times of
peak stress. These new models, combined with improved efficiency standards and smarter site selection
strategies, have the potential to ease some of the pressure being placed on energy systems.

Equally important is the role of cross-sector collaboration. As the line between tech and infrastructure
continues to blur, it’s critical that policymakers, engineers, utilities, and technology providers work
together to shape the standards and policies that will govern this transition. That means not only building
new systems, but also rethinking regulatory frameworks and investment strategies to prioritize resiliency,
equity, and sustainability.

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